Threshold



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BAUMANN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

THRESHOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,626, dated August 24, 1897. A Application ned May l, i897. Serial No. 637,204. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-A

Be it known that I, CHARLES BAUMANN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thresholds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in rubber thresholds, the object of which` is to produce a neat and attractive threshold which shall have a continuous upper surface of some considerable width adapted to bear against the bottom of the door and preserve a close contact therewith throughout its length and at the same-time be sufficiently yielding in its nature and form of construction as to readily conform to any irregularities in the lower edge of the door which may,

be present in the iirst instance or which may be produced thereafter by wear or shrinking of the door.

To such end the invention consists in the making of a threshold of rubber or other pliable or yielding material with a practically continuous upper surface extending down upon both sides of the floor and an under surface containing a series of depressions whereby the threshold is made much more'yieldin g than if it were solid and is pressed down much more easily by the door to conform to the irregularities thereof.

The drawings illustrate the invention by means of three figures, of which- Figure l is a perspective of the improved threshold in its preferred form, shown in vertical transverse section. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of a portion of the threshold, illustrating the preferred formation of the under side thereof; and Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of a door, showing thethreshold in vertical transverse section thereunder and in contact therewith.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that in the preferred form the threshold has a middle upwardly-convex portion A, upon the opposite sides of which are two ledges B O, beyond whichV are two rounded iianges D E, extending down to the plane of the oor. Between these two anges, upon theA under side, are a series of depressions F, surrounded by ribs G, the latter being so disposed as to support all portions of the convex middle part A of the threshold.

It will be readily seen that the ribs G yield to the .downward pressure of the door much more easily than a solid body of rubber, and not only greatly reduce the resistance to the closing and opening of the door, but also make the threshold more elastic or pliable longitudinally, so that it will preserve a closer and moreV perfect contact with the bottom of the door. Moreover, the -greater pliability afforded by the open structure of the under side of the threshold permits the top thereof to yield readily to the foot of a person passing throughthe door and greatly lessens the wear of the threshold.

. In the use of this threshold for outer doors of buildings it is desirable to simply fasten it in place upon the door-sill, the lower face of the threshold being in contact with the plane upper face of the sill. -In using it with inner doors, however-,that is, doors between the rooms of buildings-it is sometimes preferable to forma gain or groove in the floor beneath each door, the gain being of such width and depth as to receive the lower portion of the threshold and being preferably undercut at its side edges to receive and retain the rounded 'flanges D E at the edges of the threshold. This leaves only the ledges BC, or the upper portions thereof,projecting above the floorsuch upward portions being of substantially the same thickness as'the carpet with which the floor may be covered, thereby bringing the upper surface of the carpet iiushv with the upper surface of the corresponding ledge B or O.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A thresholdof rubber or other elastic material having a practically continuous upper surface adapted to press against the lower edge of the door and extending therefrom in opposite directions down to the plane of the iioor, and an under surface containing along its middle portion a series'of depressions reducing the quantity of ,the elastic material which extends down to the floor along the middle portion of the threshold and increasing the pliability of said middle portion; substantially as described.

IOO

2. A threshold of rubber or other pliable hand, at Oakland, in the county of Alameda material, having a practically continuous upand State of California, this 13th day of May, ro per suifalele daptedlto press1 agaiut the logerl A. D. 1897. edge o t e ooranc an un er sur ace rib ec i y 5` along its middle portion to increase the plia- CHARLES bAUMANm bility of the threshold; substantially as de- XVitnesses: scribed. JOHN SCHNEIDER,

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my HAROLD L. MARTIN. 

